Not only an authority on the international gay scene but also well-versed when it comes to political questions: The latest Spartacus International Gay Guide is out now!

The Spartacus International Gay Guide is the one travel guide that definitely has to be in the luggage of every gay traveler! Whether you're looking for a hotel, a guesthouse, a disco or other interesting places: The handy guide knows where it's at--is up to date, competent and international. The Spartacus editorial staff works hand in hand with people from all over the world to double check all the addresses, to find new places and to be aware of what's going on worldwide.

But the Spartacus offers more than this: It is also a standard work when you are looking for a quick but enlightening impression on the social and legal status of homosexuals worldwide. You will find information on the situation of gays and lesbians in 5 languages and for over 120 countries.

Let's take a look to India, for example, where in the 39th edition of the Spartacus we can announce a clear improvement of gay rights: a few moths ago the law was amended and homosexual encounters are no longer outlawed there. The changes that happened in Sweden are, of course, by far more extensive. In May of 2009 the generally liberal state opened marriage in a church for gay and lesbian relationships, making them practically equal to heterosexual partnerships.

The parliament in Portugal also passed same-sex marriage laws. The new Portuguese law prohibits any discrimination on ground of the sexual identity of a person.

The headlines that Russia made during the last year were unfortunately clearly negative. During the Eurovision Song Contest the Russian police cracked down on gays and lesbians that wanted to use the event—which is very popular among homosexuals--to gain the international attention and point out the situation of homosexuals, who are barely tolerated in Russia. In Poland the government also stands against the legal or even social acceptation of same-sex partnerships.

Still devastating is the situation in Iran, where homosexual encounters are continuously avenged with the execution of the "committer".

A true ray of hope comes from Uruguay: In this country--which in any way is one of the most tolerant states of South America--homosexual couples are by now allowed to adopt children.

The new Spartacus International Gay Guide will be available worldwide in March 2009. On more than 1.200 full coloured pages the guide lists the latest information on around 22.000 locations, such as hotels, restaurants, discos and more. More than 85 maps will lead gay traveller directly to the places to be.

(39th edition, 1216 pages, English, German, French, Italian & Spanish)

posted in General, Releases, Announcements on 17.02.2010